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Race season is just around the corner and Cleveland’s races are already scheduled for virtually every weekend in from April through September. Here are five of the top Cleveland-area races to get the blood flowing this spring and summer.

Support Providence House, a safe place for victims of abuse, with a run for a great cause. Start at Tower City, Cleveland’s downtown mall and finish at the Pinwheels for Prevention press conference. The kids’ fun run around the indoor fountains at Tower City guarantees fun for the whole family no matter the weather.

Organized by Cleveland West Road Runners Club, the Spring Classic is now in its 40th year. Runners and walkers go through Cleveland’s beautiful MetroParks, beginning and ending at the Bonnie Park picnic area in Strongsville. Awards are distributed at the chute so nobody waits for delicious post-race food, and the first 400 runners win T-shirts.

This event features an all-you-can-eat pancake and French toast breakfast at Bedford High School following the run. The race, a Boston Marathon qualifier, raises money for the Bedford Foundation’s student scholarships. Plaques go to the top two male and female competitors, but all children younger than 12 receive a medal for completing the race. Ribbons go to all walkers.

This is the race event in Cleveland. Along with the 26.2 mile marathon, RiteAid hosts a 13.1 mile half marathon, a 10K, a 5K and a kids’ run to offer everyone a scenic tour of the city. Expect huge crowds and a well-organized race at the 35th Annual RiteAid Cleveland Marathon.

Join this hot summer evening run as it shuts down Detroit Avenue, and follow up at the street party for live music, free beer and a T-shirt for every runner. This exciting event supports LakewoodAlive, the economic development organization promoting Downtown Lakewood. A health-focused street fair precedes the race.

Susan Walker enjoys life in Lakewood, Ohio, on Cleveland’s west side where she works as a sourcing and purchasing consultant. She holds an MBA from Cleveland State and a BS in Chemistry and Computer Science. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.